NBC announced that it will not host the Golden Globes next year over concerns that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is not committed enough to diversity.
“We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform,” NBC said in a statement. “However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.”
The move comes after several major studio companies announced plans to boycott the HFPA, which runs the awards shows, including Amazon, Netflix, and WarnerMedia.
Stars such as Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo have also been highly critical of the group, with Johansson calling the organization “sexist.”
EARLY 2021 GOLDEN GLOBES VIEWERSHIP NUMBERS DOWN 60% FROM LAST YEAR
“As an actor promoting a film, one is expected to participate in awards season by attending press conferences as well as awards shows,” Johansson said. “In the past, this has often meant facing sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment. It is the exact reason why I, for many years, refused to participate in their conferences.”
“The HFPA is an organization that was legitimized by the likes of Harvey Weinstein to amass momentum for Academy recognition, and the industry followed suit,” Johansson continued. “Unless there is necessary fundamental reform within the organization, I believe it is time that we take a step back from the HFPA and focus on the importance and strength of unity within our unions and the industry as a whole.”
The 86-member HFPA voted last week in favor of making several changes with the intent to increase its diversity after a profile of the organization in the Los Angeles Times called attention to its lack of black members.
While NBC’s decision not to air the show centered on the HFPA’s lack of diversity, the network has already been reeling from the Golden Globes record low ratings this year. The 2021 show pulled in a total of 6.9 million viewers, down from 18.3 million in 2020.
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Award shows, in general, have been suffering from low ratings this year, with the typically highly anticipated Oscars garnering under 10 million viewers in 2021, also a new record low.
